This data set includes a variety of station data from two Antarctic icebergs. In 2006, researchers installed specialized weather stations called Automated Meteorological Ice Geophysical Observing Stations (AMIGOS) on two icebergs, A22A and UK211 (nicknamed Amigosberg), near Marambio Station in Antarctica.The AMIGOS stations were outfitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, cameras, and an electronic thermometer. They collected data from their installation in March 2006 until the icebergs crumbled into the ocean, in 2006 (Amigosberg) and 2007 (A22A). Available data include GPS, temperature and ablation measurements, and photographs of the station base and of flag lines extending out to the edges of the icebergs. Snow pit data from iceberg A22A is also included.
This data set was collected as part of a National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs Special Grant for Exploratory Research, to explore the possibility of using drfting icebergs to investigate ice shelf evolution caused by climate change. The expedition, nicknamed IceTrek, was conducted jointly with Argentine scientists. The data are available via FTP in ASCII text (.txt) and Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg) formats.
The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.
The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. List the principal investigators, year of data set release, publisher: NSIDC, and digital media.
Scambos, T., R. Bauer, R. Ross, J. Bohlander, J. Thom, Y. Yermolin. 2010. Climate, Drift, and Image Data from Antarctic Icebergs A22A and Amigosberg, 2006-2007. Boulder, Colorado, USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. http://dx.doi.org/10.7265/N5N014GW.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Data format | Data are in ASCII text (.txt) and .jpg formats. |
| Spatial coverage and resolution |
Southernmost Latitude: 80° S Northernmost Latitude: 47° S Westernmost Longitude: 60° W Easternmost Longitude: 15° W |
| Temporal coverage and resolution | March 2006 to January 2007 |
| File naming convention | Amigos_gps.txt 20060218_02.jpg |
| File size | Files range in size 4 KB from to 442 KB. |
| Parameter(s) | GPS Temperature Degree Hours Snow Ablation/Accumulation Photographs |
| Procedures for obtaining data | Data are available via FTP. |
Dr. Ted Scambos
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado 80309
USA
Jennifer Bohlander
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado 80309
USA
Rob Bauer
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado 80309
USA
Ronald Ross
Polar66 8/788
New South Head Road
Rose Bay, NSW 2029
Australia
Dr. Jonathan Thom
947 Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Building
1225 West Dayton Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
USA
Dr. Yevgeniy Yermolin
Instituto Antartico Argentino
Cerrito 1248,
Buenos Aires 1010
Argentina
NSIDC User Services
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA
phone: +1 303.492.6199
fax: +1 303.492.2468
form: Contact NSIDC User Services
e-mail: nsidc@nsidc.org
This research was supported by NSF OPP grant number 0540915 and NASA grant NNG06GA69G.
Data are in ASCII text format (.txt). Figures are available in Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg) format.
Data are available on the FTP site
in the ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/AGDC/scambos_nsidc_0466/ directory. The folder contains ASCII text files, as well as image files within subfolders.
ASCII text files are named according to the following convention and as described in Table 1:
iceberg_datatype_Y1_Y2.txt
Where:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| iceberg | Iceberg name: A22A or Amigosberg |
| datatype | Type of data in file: GPS, depth, degree hours (deghrs), icepit data, or temperature |
| Y1 | Year in which measurements began |
| Y2 | Year in which measurements ended |
Example: The file a22a_depth_06_07.txt contains depth measurements for the iceberg A22A, during the time period 2006 to 2007.
Image folders are labeled by iceberg and image type, according to the following convention and as described in Table 2:
iceberg_imagetype_imgs
Where:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| iceberg | Iceberg name: A22A or Amigosberg |
| imagetype | Direction of photograph: Base: Photo looking down at the AMIGOS station base Flag: Photo looking out over the flag line that extends towards the iceberg edge |
| imgs | Folder contains image files |
Example: The folder amigos_flags_imgs contains photos from the AMIGOS station on Amigosberg, looking out over the flag line that extends towards the iceberg edge.
Each image file within its folder is named based on its date, according to the following convention and as described in Table 3:
YYYYMMDD_NN.jpg
Where:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| YYYY | Four-digit year |
| MM | Two-digit month |
| DD | Two-digit day |
| NN | Photo number: 02 refers to flag images and 06 refers to base images |
Example: The file 20060218_02.jpg is a photograph taken on 18 February 2006, looking out over the flag line that extends towards the iceberg edge.
Files range in size from 4 KB to 353 KB.
Southernmost Latitude: 80° S
Northernmost Latitude: 47° S
Westernmost Longitude: 60° W
Easternmost Longitude: 15° W
Figure 1. This map shows the iceberg tracks in the Southern Ocean.
A22A is shown in green, and UK211 (Amigosberg) is shown in pink.
Tracking data courtesy D. Long.
This data set contains GPS location data, temperature measurements, depth, and accumulation/ablation measurements, and snow pit data provided by Yevgeniy Yermolin. The data set also includes image taken by cameras on the AMIGOS station at pre-set times each day. Table 4 lists the parameters in each type of data file.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| GPS | |
| Time | Time (UTM) in HHMMSS |
| Latitude | Latitude, in degrees and minutes (DDDD.MMMM) |
| Longitude | Longitude, in degrees and minutes (DDDDD.MMMM) |
| Speed | Speed in kilometers per hour |
| Bearing | Bearing, in degrees. Does not report when speed is 0.00 km/hr |
| Date | Date (DDMMYY) |
| Temperature | |
| ddoy | Decimal day of year (Multiple measurements were taken each day) |
| temp | Air temperature measurement in degreed Celsius |
| Depth | |
| doy | Numerical day of year (One measurement was taken per day) |
| depth | Height of pole above snow surface in centimeters, with an initial setting of 75 cm above snow level |
| Degree Hours | |
| ddoy | Decimal day of year (Multiple measurements were taken each day) |
| deghrs | Sum of hours per day during which the air temperature was above freezing. |
| Snow Pit | |
| Firn Core Depth | Firn core depth in meters |
| Firn Temperature | Firn temperature in degrees Celsius |
| Snow Pit Depth | Snow pit depth in meters |
| Firn Density | Firn density in grams per cubic centimeter |
Sample GPS data record from A22a_allgps.txt. This sample shows only the first four records in the file.
| Time | Latitude | Longitude | Speed | Bearing | Date |
| 134816 | 6314.4952 S | 05146.3772 W | 000.4 | 334.5 | 190306 |
| 142818 | 6314.2754 S | 05146.6103 W | 000.4 | 332.4 | 190306 |
| 152821 | 6313.9972 S | 05146.9818 W | 000.3 | 322.9 | 190306 |
| 162825 | 6313.7942 S | 05147.3498 W | 000.0 | 313.3 | 190306 |
Figure 2. Photograph of A22A AMIGOS Station Base, taken on 1 December 2006.
Figure 3. Photograph of flag line on A22A, taken on 14 November 2006.
Data are available via FTP.
The total volume of this data set is 8.3 MB.
Data are accessible using spreadsheet software. Image files may require image viewing software.
Measurements were made using an automated system of weather sensors, GPS, and cameras mounted on towers on two icebergs in the Southern Ocean. More details on the methods are available in Scambos, et. al., 2008.
Scambos, T., R. Ross, R. Bauer, Y. Yermolin, P. Skvarca, D. Long, J. Bohlander, T. Haran. 2008. Calving and Ice Shelf Break-Up Processes Investigated by Proxy: Antarctic Tabular Iceberg Evolution during Northward Drift. Journal of Glaciology, 54 (187) 579-591.
The following related documents are available on the NSIDC Web site:
| Document | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Antarctic Glaciological Data Center (AGDC) | Data Center Web site | http://nsidc.org/agdc/ |
| IceTrek | IceTrek Expedition Informational Web site | http://nsidc.org/icetrek/ |
The following acronyms are used in this document.
| Acronym | Description |
|---|---|
| AGDC | Antarctic Glaciological Data Center |
| AMIGOS | Automated Meteorological Ice Geophysical Observing Station |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol |
| NSIDC | National Snow and Ice Data Center |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator |
January 2011
http://nsidc.org/data/docs/agdc/nsidc0466_scambos/index.html
